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Sense of Fashion: Return those unworn garments before it's too late

Post-holiday season brings with it so many wonderful surprises, but always among them are the items that we must return. For many this is a dreaded event, often accompanied by guilt, embarrassment and other unnecessary emotions that get tangled in the task.

What must be done, must be done no matter how unpleasant. It is unacceptable for a power-purchaser such as yourself to have an assortment of items around the house that you never intend to wear.

Here are your marching orders, complete with instructions on the art of returning.

Date sensitive

First and foremost, it is mid-January. Many retailers have return policies that are date-sensitive, limiting customers to return merchandise within 30 days.

It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with a store’s return policy before your return visit. The rules are not meant as a penalty but rather, especially in fashion, to keep their inventory current for seasonal selections.

What good would a returned fur vest do us in mid-June? So if your return item was a gift purchased for the holidays, remember, time dwindles and so does the patience of the store management.

Confirm and prepare

Once you have assembled your items and are ready to go, we recommend using a shopping bag for your items.

You want to enter the store with a clear purchase in hand. Please don’t muddy the waters by tucking your return in your fabulous new oversized tote.

If you have a shopping bag from the store from previous visits, use it.

If not, then at minimum use another shopping bag to keep the item clean, folded or un-opened.

Return reason

One key piece of information you need to bring with you is just why you are making the return.

Remember, you are a customer and each store wants to keep you as a client.

Your item did not work out and it is important to establish why not and what would have worked better.